The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-23

pray with the expectation that they will
come. How should we prepare for them?
BY such services and efforts as time and
experience have approved, modified by
the prir ciples of our church and the
character Of our people. Special services
for the inculcation of the principles of
our faith, and for the promotion of
wholesome moral and spiritual interest
cannot fail to be profitable if they are
conducted in the right spirit and with
some definite moral and practical aim.
The older I grow the less faith 1 have
in what some one has named "the gospel
of ambiguity" A plain, practical dis
course, devoted TO the task of showing
men what they must do in the way of
church membership and gospel work, in
order that they may become saints, is
worth a hundred sermons made up of
glowing descriptions OF hypothetical
ssintliness. In many instances, perhaps
the majority of them, the first step in the
work of regeneration is to do something
in the name of religion. But how shall
men take this step if they are not told
what it is and how to take it? The time
to employ special methods is when you
can best command the attention and CO.
operation of the people. The Lenten
season has it's advantages, but we may
easily make too much Of it. In some
churches the services which are held pre-
paratory to the Easter occasion, have de-
generated into a mere fashion or formal
ity; and hence they are Lot means of
spiritual awakening. We ought to
guard carefully against the feeling that
we do not seriously expect men to begin
a religious life at other times than on
Easter or some communion Sunday.
These are suitable occasions for empha-
sizing the duties and privileges of church
fellowship; but where the need is great
and the conditions are favorable, any
other time will answer as we'll. Every
church of our order should, at least once
year, hold series of special services
for the promotion of those principles
which our denomination represents.
AS to the character of services, I would
make them spiritual and fraternal rather
than intellectual and dogmatic. In no
case should they consist of a course of
doctrinal lectures. In every case they
should be made TO appeal as strongly as
possible to the better emotions and deeper
moral convictions of the people. These
special services should not be coldly for
NAL. For this reason it is better to hold
them in the conference room, if you have
one. In any event, get near to your hear
ers. Tell them plainly what you wish to
do, and why it should be done. Do not
resort TO ssnsationglism, but aim steadily
at moral earnestness. Begin first of all
with the lukewarm and negligent mem-
bers of your church. A genuine spiritual
awakening can never take place in your
parish while half your church people are
asleep. The movement should begin at
the altar of the church, or in other words,
in the heart of the pastor, and from there
it will spread through the congregation,
|
and out into the community. Use all
proper means to awaken an interest in
the church and its work. There is small
danger that we shall become too deDom-
national. There can be no spiritual
awakening which does not tend strongly
toward an increase of numbers, as well as
spiritual force. Hence you should aim
distinctly at both these results. There
are persons in nearly all our parishes
who have done nearly everything that
they could do for our churches, except to
become members of them. Unwittingly
they become stumbling blocks in the way
of others. And one CT the chief uses of
the special service should be to bring
such as these to make the last and best
contribution and sacrifice to the cause
they love by taking the VOWS and receiv-
ing the hand of Christian fellowship. But
in seeking an increase of membership do
not accommodate the moral standard OF
your church to the feelings of the unspir-
itual. Such q course will always repel
more persons than it will attract; and the
policy will make your sanctuary retreat
for incurables, rather than home for
healthy growing souls. Selfishness, pride
and vice will not come to you if they are
not made to feel comfortable and appear
respectable. Hence You may safely re-
ceive all who come to you, if your moral
standard is so maintained that none will
come from unworthy motives. In these
special services we ought to follow the
rule of CO operation. Our ministers and
churches ought to help one another. Al
the conclusion of such a service as [ have
described, would invite those in attend
ance to remain in the church until they
have at least been introduced to visiting
brethren, and until they have clasped
hands with the pastor. Fraternal feeling
is as much a cause as a product of spirit
uality, and like every other worthy senti.
ment it grows best, not i'll silence, but by
expression.
The Open Court is the Chicago envi.
ronment Of the transmigrated soul OF the